Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,
We conclude our Octave of Easter this weekend with the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. The solemnity of Easter is so important that the Church gives it an eight (octave) day celebration. I would like to thank everyone who worked so tirelessly to make our Holy Week and Easter liturgies so beautiful and powerful, especially our Pastorate’s music ministries who collaborated on several of them, and all who helped with preparing and decorating our churches. I am also grateful to all who participated in the Sacred Triduum this year as we came together as one community of faith. Special thanks also go out to Melissa Boyle and all who assisted with our Pastorate’s RCIA program this past year. And congratulations to all who were baptized, confirmed and received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. May we all continue our Easter proclamation: Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen!
Divine Mercy Sunday is a feast day established by Pope St. John Paul II based on the private revelations received by St. Faustina from our Lord, who asked her to spread throughout the world a devotion to His divine mercy. This day reminds us that God’s love and mercy eternally endures and can overcome any sin that separates us from God. We will be hosting Eucharistic Adoration this Sunday between the Masses at both St. Jane Frances (between 8am and 10am) and Our Lady of the Chesapeake. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will also be prayed at this time.
SEEKERS is a program being offered by our Pastorate for people who feel spiritually disconnected with the Catholic Church. Do you or someone you know have questions and are seeking for answers in the hope of becoming reconnected? SEEKERS is also for people who are just inquiring about God and/or the Church. There are three sessions all beginning at 7:00pm: April 8th at St. Jane School, April 22nd at OLC’s Maryland Suite, and May 13th at St. Jane School. For more information, contact Fr. Jim.
Both parishes are in the midst of roof replacement projects and are in the process of raising funds for them. St. Jane Frances is working on Phase 1 to replace the roof over the Parish Hall for about $305,000 and OLC is preparing to begin work on replacing the Church roof and extensive work on the clerestory windows and siding for about $265,000. Donations to both projects are being accepted and are “tax free” from Archdiocesan taxes. Thanks for your support!
Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers! I certainly remember all of you in my daily prayers as well!
God Bless,
Father Steve
